Question

Case study 1: Weak Knees: A Case of Atorvastatin-induced Dermatomyositis

Use this link to answer the questions

a) Using medical terminology compose a 5 sentence summary of the patient’s case history. Use the most relevant information,

b) Define the following medical terms used in the case study and indicate the parts of each term (prefix, combining form, suffix):

1. dysphagia

2. hyperlipidemia

3. erythematous

4. interphalangeal

5. tachycardia

6. electromyography

7. percutaneous

8. gastrostomy

Answer 1

Atorvastatin is categorized under statin drugs. It helps to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. As higher cholesterol levels (hyperlipidemia) contributes to heart diseases like Stroke and myocardial infarction. The drug atorvastatin acts by blocking HMG-CoA reductase involves in the biosynthesis of cholesterol.

Dermatomyositis is a inflammatory disease characterized by skin rashes,weakness of muscle,and inflammation of joints and muscles. Atorvastatin induced dermatomyositis a rare conditon resulting from the intake of lipid lowering drugs like atorvastatin,enoxaparine.

Mr X was treated with Atorvastatin has no previous history of autoimmune disorder,musculoskeletal or cutaneous problems. He came with the complaints of weak knees,rash and papules on the knees,face and neck.

Define the following medical terms used in the case study and indicate the parts of each term (prefix, combining form, suffix):

1. dysphagia - The suffix in this term is '-phagia' - means swallowing. Prefix 'dys' means difficult or painful. Dysphagia refers to impairment in swallowing. Dysphagia occurs as a results of any neurological disturbances like multiple sclerosis,parkinsonism disease,stroke,esophageal atresia.

2. hyperlipidemia- Hyper -prefix refers to increased or elevated. Suffix emia refers to blood, word root lipid refers to fat/lipid. Hyperlipedemia refers to depostion of excess of lipids (cholestrol and triglycerides) in the blood.

3. erythematous - The prefix erythema refers to redness of the skin or the mucous membranes. It occurs as a result of injury to capillaries in the superficial skin.

4. interphalangeal - the interphalyngeal joints are the hinge joints between the phalanges of the fingers. The inter prefix refers to between and the suffix phalyngeal refers to phalanx or the phalanges.

5. tachycardia - The prefix tachy refers to increased or elevated, the suffix cardia refers to heart. Tachycardia refers to increased heart beat that ranges to 100 times per minute.